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British Colonial Furniture

BRITISH COLONIAL STYLE

Typically made of mahogany, teak or bamboo and featuring a range of fabrics and prints with botanical patterns, antique British Colonial furniture and decor varies as it involved local materials and techniques and spanned centuries of design styles.

As the British Empire expanded from the 16th to the 20th century, its conquest and control of colonies around the world bolstered its wealth through the extraction of resources. Including colonies in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australasia, this spread of often violent subjugation imposed British culture, language and faith on Indigenous peoples. The design of homes was included in this expression of imperial power, with government officials, merchants and military officers creating homes mimicking the luxuries they were used to in England.

Local artisans were commissioned to replicate British designs, resulting in versions of Regency, Chippendale, Sheraton and other styles of furniture being crafted from mahogany, rosewood, ebony and teakwood as opposed to beech and oak, which were more common in Europe. Whereas the colonial furniture for the Portuguese and Dutch regularly had motifs of indigenous flora and fauna, the British tended to want more exact reproductions of their home country’s designs.

To escape the summer heat in places such as India and the Caribbean, British colonizers relocated to airy houses in the hills or plantations, leading to foldable chairs and collapsible desks in the style of military campaign furniture. Rather than upholstery as they might have in Europe, chairs and sofas in the British Colonial style had rattan and cane seating for these higher temperature climates. The contrast between the light textiles and the dark colors of the sturdy furniture became a defining aesthetic of British Colonial interiors.

Find a collection of antique British Colonial outdoor furniture, seating, bedroom furniture, decorative objects and other items on 1stDibs.

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Style: British Colonial
Colonial Rosewood Carved Hutch Linen Cabinet with Barley Twist Columns
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Uncompromisingly hand-crafted Colonial cabinet with barley twist columns and removable shelves Circa 1880-90. Constructed from solid Rosewood and sitting on bun feet framed by hand c...
Category

Late 19th Century Asian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Rosewood

Vintage Coastal Boho Bamboo Rattan Foldable Dinning / Card Table
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Charming vintage folding table crafted from bamboo and rattan, featuring a striking geometric parquet design on the top. The natural beauty of the bamboo is highlighted by the warm h...
Category

1970s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Wood

Vintage Campaign Anglo Indian Wicker Pith Helmet
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Transporting British Colonial Anglo Indian pith helmet or hat ambitiously handcrafted in woven reed or wicker in classic form with metal breather holes and plenty of tropical charm. ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wicker, Reed

Large Green Hand-Painted English Tea Canister Lamps (Pair)
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of late 1800s tole tea tin canisters made into table lamps. They are green with gold trim and finely hand-painted genre scenes in the centers. Newly rewired with dimmers on th...
Category

Mid-19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Metal

English Tea Table, 1930s
Located in Marinha Grande, PT
Tea table with marquetry net, English style, early 20th century. The lower part opens onto 4 side trays. Very cute, can be used as a trolley.
Category

1920s English Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Danish child chair 1930s
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Tiny child chair in stained pine. With the right amount of patina.
Category

1930s Danish Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Pine

Antique Mersman Mahogany Lyre Base 3 Tier Dumbwaiter Table
Located in Germantown, MD
This early 1900s table would be wonderful in a entryway filled with flowers, or used to serve food at an event. It is in great condition - very solid and well built. However it does ...
Category

Early 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Hardwood

Vintage Set Of Two John Derian Jungle Animals Porcelain Lidded Jars
Located in Bradenton, FL
Pair of 20th century porcelain jungle-themed lidded jars by New York designer, John Derian. Elegant vases feature multiple jungle animals including elephants, tigers, monkeys and zeb...
Category

20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Porcelain

Maitland-Smith Vintage Faux Bamboo Stand with Magazine Rack
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style mid century one drawer stand handcrafted with a faux burnt bamboo wood frame featuring brass caps, jungle camouflage panels on the top and sides and lower maga...
Category

Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Faux Bamboo

Bamboo and rattan folding screen, 1950s
Located in Vicenza, IT
Four-panel decorative screen made of bamboo and rattan, datable to around 1950s. The distinctive element is the ornamental design achieved by weaving and spiraling curvatures of ratt...
Category

1950s Unknown Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Rattan

Maitland Smith Post Modern Zebra Hide Box 1980's
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Large Post Modern 1980s Maitland Smith decorative box made of a square wood bottom covered in brown leather and top lid covered with zebra hide with a round polished brass and hyde p...
Category

Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Leather, Zebra Hide

19th Century British Colonial Ceylonese Satinwood and Ebony Cabinet
Located in San Marino, CA
Early 19th century British Colonial cabinet of wide-paneled and figured solid satinwood with solid ebony trim. Sri Lanka, formerly known as Ceylon, is one of the few places in the wo...
Category

19th Century Sri Lankan Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Ebony, Satinwood

19th Century Tufted Leather Foot Stool or Bench, with Raising Capabilities
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Here is a fine, 19th century, brown leather, button tufted foot stool with mahogany frame and brass tacks over turned legs and brass wheels. Having t...
Category

1860s British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mahogany

Teak and Cane Colonial Chaise Lounge
Located in Highland, IN
This striking chaise is long, lean and luxurious. A teak frame with lovely carved details and a woven cane support offers a platform for lounging, reading and relaxing. Made more comfortable by a beautiful woven quilted pad and pillow. This exceptional piece strikes a balance between antique and...
Category

Early 20th Century European British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Cane, Teak

A 19th Century Brass Bound Mandalay Teak Campaign Dressing Box, Burma Circa 1860
Located in Ottawa, Ontario
These boxes were made for British military officers who were posted in Burma (now Myanmar) & India during the days of British rule. The brass & copper bound teak case is profusely ...
Category

Mid-19th Century Burmese Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass, Copper, Iron

Vintage Coastal British Colonial Safari Bamboo Headboard with Rattan Medallion
Located in Boca Raton, FL
Vintage coastal British colonial safari style bamboo headboard with woven rattan medallion.
Category

1940s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Antique Decorative Desk Stand, Indian, Ebony, Colonial Writer's Tidy, Victorian
Located in Hele, Devon, GB
This is an antique decorative desk stand. An Indian, ebony Colonial writer's tidy, dating to the early Victorian period, circa 1850. Striking dark tonality with eye-catching Colon...
Category

Mid-19th Century Indian Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Ebony

Luxurious 2.5-seater sheep leather sofa with fabric cushions in English style
Located in Harderwijk, NL
This fantastic sheep leather 2.5-seater sofa exudes luxury and offers amazing seating comfort. The sofa comes with original loose seat and decorative cushions. The detachable armrest...
Category

20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Leather, Textile

Rustic Antique Indian Architectural M-o-p Inlaid Teak Window
Located in Forney, TX
A beautiful antique Indian architectural m-o-p inlaid carved teak window. India, late 19th / early 20th century, primitive hand-crafted ...
Category

Early 20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Mother-of-Pearl, Teak

Brass Door Handle
Located in Sheffield, MA
Pair of very decorative brass door or cabinet handles with carved details. Ready to mount.
Category

20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Late 20th Century British Colonial Tortoise Rattan & Cane Round Center Table
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
A stylish Late 20th Century rattan center table by PTMC, designed with a warm tortoise finish and woven cane lower and upper shelf. Its round form and gently flared legs give it a ba...
Category

Late 20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Rattan, Wood

Turn of the Century English Hotel Front Desk Mail Cabinet
Located in North Miami, FL
This whimsical curiosity cabinet from an English Hotel, used for guests to receive their mail. Roman numerals on enamel tags to windowed doors. The wood is lovely aged and the cabi...
Category

Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Enamel

Midcentury British Colonial Style Bamboo Bar Cart
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Midcentury bar cart or tea cart with a bamboo frame wrapped with reed.
Category

20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bamboo

Distressed Vintage Turkish Kilim Rug with Southern Living British Colonial Style
Located in Dallas, TX
50769, distressed vintage Turkish Kilim rug with Southern Living British Colonial style. This handwoven wool vintage Turkish Kilim...
Category

Mid-20th Century Turkish British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wool

Antique Victorian Cast Iron Bookbinding Press Screw Nipping Press
Located in Tyler, TX
EXCELLENT Antique Victorian Cast Iron Book Press~~c. 19th century Beautiful decorative Victorian era green book press nipping press 13" tall x...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Iron

Solid Teak Hand Carved Colonial Whatnot Rack with Shelves & Drawers
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia
British Colonial solid Teak whatnot stand with shelves in good condition. Hand carved fluted vase columns with crown moulding and drawers. Brass ha...
Category

Early 1900s British Indian Ocean Territory Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Teak

Regency Style Anglo Indian Chair
Located in Chapel Hill, NC
A well proportioned Anglo Indian armchair. Hand craved out of rosewood, the chair carved with rosettes and the back rest is carved is the form of horns. The seat is woven cane and u...
Category

1950s Indian Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Cane, Teak

English Folding Ships Ladders
Located in Faversham, GB
A superb high quality folding ships ladder in mahogany with a beautiful rich red colour and patina. The ladder is complemented with nickle plated brass hi...
Category

20th Century British British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

English Folding Ships Ladders
English Folding Ships Ladders
$988 Sale Price
20% Off
Pair Brighton Pavillon Burnt Bamboo Cane Chairs Pale Blue Cushions
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Just in this A pair of late early 20th century bamboo open armchairs in the Brighton Pavilion Taste each with an inserted black and gold lacquered figurative panel. New French Pale B...
Category

Early 20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bamboo, Cane, Lacquer

Inlaid Center Table
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Unusual center table crafted in mahogany and walnut veneer with an octagon form top having a sunburst grain design with a floral border inlaid with Macassar ebony, satinwood, sycamor...
Category

20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Burlap, Ebony, Sycamore, Walnut

British Colonial Style Coffee Table with Inset Bronze, Christie's Auction Label
Located in Miami, FL
British Colonial Style coffee table with inset bronze. Christie's auction label. Offered for sale is a British Colonial-style coffee table with an inset bronze grate...
Category

Late 20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bronze

20th Century British Colonial Bookcase with Bottom Storage
Located in Chicago, IL
This impressively-scaled book cabinet was made from solid Teak wood and dates to the 1940's. During the late British empire in India and Burma much furniture was made in the Art Deco...
Category

Early 20th Century Burmese British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Teak

Vintage Hand Crafted Leather Jaguar Sculpture
Located in Boynton Beach, FL
Beautiful hand crafted leather jaguar. Leather wrapped and hand painted. Beautiful details and life like. 20” long 10.5” tall 6” wide
Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Leather

Mid-century solid brass obelisk lamp after Chapman
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a handsome mid-century vintage library style solid brass obelisk lamp. This obelisk lamp has a pedestal with four ball feet, holding up the obelisk with a metal black lacquer...
Category

1970s American Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Vintage Wicker and Rattan Hand Fans
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Unusual pair of vintage fans with plenty of decorative appeal hand crafted with stick wicker leaves over rattan ribs.
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wicker, Rattan

Large Pencil Reed Rattan Floor Vase
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Midcentury floor vase crafted in pencil reed with a Classic form and warm lush finish.
Category

20th Century Italian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Reed

Coromandel Lacquer Cabinet On A Giltwood Console, England, early 18th century fl
Located in Honnelles, WHT
Coromandel Lacquer Cabinet On A Giltwood Console, England, early 18th century flag
Category

18th Century French Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

19th century English Colonial Walnut Tray Table, 1890s
Located in LEGNY, FR
This side table features a beautiful walnut top with handles and folding base, dating from the early 20th century in the English colonial style. It is in good condition. The walnut ...
Category

1890s English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Walnut

19th Century Victorian Period Oak & Brass Bound travelling Trunk
Located in Petworth,West Sussex, GB
A 19th-century, large Victorian period oak & brass-bound travelling chest or trunk. Made from oak with brass mounts and brass carrying handles. It features a warm, rich colour and pa...
Category

19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Lillian August embossed leather top side table.
Located in Allentown, PA
This is a Lillian August Leather top side table. This round side table has four fluted legs with solid brass casters at the bottom. This tabl...
Category

2010s Unknown British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

Antique Thai British Colonial Teak and Glass Display Cabinet/Bookcase
Located in Chicago, IL
Antique Thai British Colonial Teak and Glass Display Cabinet/Bookcase Store books and display your treasured items with this functional and charmingly crafted teak bookcase. This pi...
Category

Early 20th Century Thai British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Glass, Wood, Teak

Small Brighton Pavillion White Wrought Iron Settee
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Charming Miniature Brighton Pavillion style settee. This piece is finished in gloss white with a Ralph Lauren upholstered seat cushion in a chinoise...
Category

20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wrought Iron

Bronze Style Safari-Themed End Table
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This side table features a heavy rounded glass top that sits upon an elaborately sculpted bronze colored base. The base uses a palm tree to hold up the table's top, and two small ele...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Composition

Antique Caribbean Watercolor
Located in Palm Beach, FL
19th century tropical West Indies watercolor on paper depicting a moment in time on a quiet street complete with houses, palm trees, flowers and a woman carrying a bundle on her he...
Category

Mid-19th Century Caribbean Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Paint

Faux Bamboo British Colonial Style Occasional Table by Maitland-Smith
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage occasional table or stand crafted in faux bamboo featuring a faux tortoise finish, brass caps and two tiers of tooled leather tops. As...
Category

20th Century Philippine British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Vintage Welsh Cupboard ~ Sideboard
Located in Dallas, TX
Vintage Welsh Cupboard ~ Sideboard is a clever design originating in what is now called the UK, providing means to store cups, saucers and linens, while displaying some of the family...
Category

Mid-20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Steel

19th Century Wooden Ship Wheel
Located in Queens, NY
Wooden ship wheel with brass trim (19th Cent)
Category

19th Century British Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Wood

Colonial Style Twin Bed Frame
Located in Bradenton, FL
A Colonial style twin bed frame made of maple. Turned baluster bed posts are topped with cannon ball finials, and support slightly scrolled head and foot ...
Category

Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Maple

Late 19th C. English Mahogany Chaise with Heavy Woven Guatemalan Fabric
Located in North Miami, FL
An early 19th century antique sculptural mahogany chaise lounge with turned wood stretchers and elegantly curved backrest. The heavy woven fabric is new and provides an additional p...
Category

Late 19th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Mahogany

Pair of British Colonial Two Light Wall Sconces
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Pair of antique English wall sconces crafted in metal with a worn silver plate finish over a classic form having a crown, graceful looping ...
Category

Early 20th Century English British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Metal

Lee Radziwill Inspired Block Print Down Pink Lotus Flower Motif Pillow, India
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Bring a taste of the orient to any space with one of our custom-created Indian block print pillows. Each pillow is made of soft cotton and h...
Category

2010s Indian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Fabric, Cotton, Down

British Royal Coat of Arms Wall Plaque This Is a Large Scale Piece
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
British royal coat of arms wall plaque This is a large scale piece, it dates from the 1950s and is made in plaster and it is painted in very brig...
Category

Mid-20th Century British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Plaster

British Colonial Antique 1910 Cheltenham Silver Coffee Service Sheffield England
Located in Miami, FL
1910 English silver coffee service by Cheltenham & Company, Ltd. Sheffield, England. All 3 pieces have the same maker's marks on the bottoms complete with the engraved W A Trademark, Warranted Hard Solder England 69430. Open sugar dish...
Category

1910s English Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Silver, Steel

Square Two-Tiered Coffee Table with Caning
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Chic Baker, two-tiered coffee or cocktail table with a sleek black lacquer frame, walnut top, and a caned lower plateau that adds a British Colonial influence.
Category

20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

18th Century English Walnut Tilt-Top Table
Located in Dallas, TX
18th Century English Walnut Tilt-Top Table is a truly timeless design, made with an ingenious tilting top allowing it to be tucked against the wall when not in use, then deployed and...
Category

Late 18th Century English Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Anglo Indian Bronze Serving Bowl on a Palm Tree Stand with Camel
Located in Palm Beach, FL
British colonial style cast bronze fruit or serving bowl on a palm tree stand over a camel on a faux terra firma base.
Category

Late 20th Century Indian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Bronze

John Somers Brazilian Pewter Round 11.5 Inches Serving Plate
Located in Raleigh, US
John Somers Pewter Plate – Brazilian Craftsmanship at Its Finest Celebrate the artistry of John Somers, one of the most distinguished pewter craftsmen of the 20th century. Hailing f...
Category

Mid-20th Century Brazilian British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Pewter

19th Century Sri Lankan Trunk with Ebony Trim
Located in San Marino, CA
A 19th century Sri Lankan Trunk made of jakwood with ebony trim. Bright hardware and handles on squat feet.
Category

19th Century Sri Lankan Antique British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Ebony

Royal Air Force P10 Aircraft Compass No. 10489 T
Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight
A Royal Air Force P10 aircraft compass No. 10489 T The compass has a brass body finished in black, it comes in its battleship grey painted wooden ...
Category

1930s Vintage British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Brass

Group of Eight Elephant Head Wall Ornaments, Priced Per Set of Four
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Vintage group of twelve intriguing hand decorated cast composition elephant head wall ornaments or brackets. From the Walker Theater, Indianapolis Indiana. Priced per set of four (4).
Category

Late 20th Century American British Colonial Furniture

Materials

Composition

British Colonial furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a broad range of unique British Colonial furniture for sale on 1stDibs. Many of these items were first offered in the 21st Century and Contemporary, but contemporary artisans have continued to produce works inspired by this style. If you’re looking to add vintage furniture created in this style to your space, the works available on 1stDibs include tables, case pieces and storage cabinets, seating and other home furnishings, frequently crafted with wood, metal and other materials. If you’re shopping for used British Colonial furniture made in a specific country, there are Europe, Asia, and United Kingdom pieces for sale on 1stDibs. While there are many designers and brands associated with original furniture, popular names associated with this style include Maitland Smith, Baker Furniture Company, Bloomingdale's, and Ralph Lauren. It’s true that these talented designers have at times inspired knockoffs, but our experienced specialists have partnered with only top vetted sellers to offer authentic pieces that come with a buyer protection guarantee. Prices for furniture differ depending upon multiple factors, including designer, materials, construction methods, condition and provenance. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $80 and tops out at $88,000 while the average work can sell for $3,161.

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